Cuban news portal blasts Trump for comments on Castro

A leading Cuban news website on Thursday lambasted US President-elect Donald Trump for his comments on revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who died on Nov. 25.

After the death of Castro, Trump issued a statement saying that "the world marks the passing of a brutal dictator" and that "Castro's legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights."

Trump has also threatened to end President Barack Obama's friendly policy on Cuba unless Havana makes political changes.

"Trump's declarations about Fidel's death show, among other things, low moral stature, pride, a lack of ethics, ignorance, awkwardness, stupidity and an offense to the Cuban people," said Cubadebate in an article.

Trump should be better advised and know that these (Cuban) people are profoundly loyal to Fidel, said Cubadebate. "Getting into it with Fidel is getting into it with him who is considered the father of millions of Cubans."

The article warned that Trump, famed for his business acumen and weighing up costs and benefits, should have "more careful and pragmatic" positions in terms of Cuba, especially when he has held business interests in Cuba.

Until now, Trump's comments have not drawn an official response from the Cuban government.

The Obama administration said Thursday that, after attending Castro's funeral in Havana, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes met with Cuban officials to go over the process of normalization of relations.